Scenes from Terlingua: Texas' favorite ghost town

Why do we care about a town 650 miles away? Well, many Texans make the trip to Terlingua to escape their urban life for a few days, and in 1969, Houston investor Mel LaVergne bought the entire town for $250,000.

TERLINGUA, TX - JANUARY, 14 - Far Flung Adventures canoe guide Patrick Harris takes Cynta de Narvaez along with John and Thomas, 12, Volpe of San Antonio, Texas on a canoe trip down the Rio Grande River in Big Bend National Park near Terlingua, Texas Saturday Janurary 14, 2012. (Photo by Erich Schlegel/For The Washington Post via Getty Images) less

TERLINGUA, TX - JANUARY, 14 - Far Flung Adventures canoe guide Patrick Harris takes Cynta de Narvaez along with John and Thomas, 12, Volpe of San Antonio, Texas on a canoe trip down the Rio Grande River in Big ... more

Grand Prize winner Clifton Dugan from Denison and "Red Rat Chili" holds his award high as he walks thru the crowd at the Original Championship Chili Cook-off in Terlingua. 11/01/2002 (E. Joe Deering/Chronicle). less

Grand Prize winner Clifton Dugan from Denison and "Red Rat Chili" holds his award high as he walks thru the crowd at the Original Championship Chili Cook-off in Terlingua. 11/01/2002 (E. Joe ... more

The Couch Guys Camp a chili cook-off team sit on couches they purchase from a thrift store in Uvalde, have the set in the Championship Chili Cook-Off in Terlingua. 11/01/2002 (E. Joe Deering/Chronicle).

The Couch Guys Camp a chili cook-off team sit on couches they purchase from a thrift store in Uvalde, have the set in the Championship Chili Cook-Off in Terlingua. 11/01/2002 (E. Joe Deering/Chronicle).